Keesler to receive enhanced DBIDS system Aug. 15

Published July 19, 2012
By 81st Security Forces Squadron

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Air Education and Training Command recently initiated a command-wide upgrade to the Defense Biometric Identification System and Keesler is next on the list to receive the improved system. This enhanced version of both the software and hardware will come online on Aug. 15th.

Keesler currently has over 49,000 active-duty military, reserve, guard, retiree, DOD civilian and family members' cards registered into DBIDS and averages 3,200 scans per day. This upgrade is expected to eventually streamline the process of registering and scanning all cards.

When the new version of DBIDS comes online, it will eliminate the need for Department of Defense-issued card holders to go to the visitor's center. Instead, cardholders will be automatically registered into the DBIDS database when the ID is initially scanned at the gate.

Registered ID cards will also be recognized across the continental United States, as opposed to the current system which breaks the country into four separate regions. This new link will help identify individuals attempting to access Keesler who have been barred from other installations, giving the base an additional layer of security.

The new system will identify only your most current Department of Defense identification card issued by the Military Personnel Flight. For those who are eligible for more than one type of DOD ID Card, both can be successfully scanned and registered when entering the base. For example someone may be issued both a retiree card and a DOD contractor common access card.

The new DBIDS version 4.0 will also identify ID cards that the DOD has deemed to be in need of replacement. In this case, the entry controller will inform the cardholders that they need to replace their current ID at the military personnel flight.

The 81st Security Forces Squadron and 81st Force Support Squadron are working diligently to meet the requirements of the new DBIDS 4.0 program and ask for the cooperation and patience of the Keesler public during this transition.